FUTURE IS BRIGHT AS SPURS SEAL LAST-16 SPOT
Tottenham Hotspur were bailed out by three academy graduates as they sealed a spot in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League with a 3-0 victory over Elfsborg.
It was largely a low-key affair at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with an atmosphere to match, and Spurs struggled to create a meaningful chance until Pape Matar Sarr saw his shot well saved on 33 minutes after good work out wide by Son Heung-min.
The match of the final league phase stagnated in the second half, until the introduction of Dane Scarlett - who made an instant impact to breathe life into the match.
The 20-year-old, who spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Oxford United in the Championship, immediately pounced on an excellent Dejan Kulusevski cross to head home his first goal for the club, just four minutes after being introduced as a substitute.
And six minutes from time, 19-year-old debutant Damola Ajayi put the result beyond doubt as he fired home after a neat one-two with fellow academy team-mate Scarlett.
To seal what ended up being a heartwarming evening in north London, Mikey Moore capped off the scoring with the last meaningful kick of the game, embarking on a fantastic solo run before squeezing an effort into the far corner.
The result saw Elfsborg exit the European competition, as Spurs enjoyed a well-earned break ahead of their knockout tie.
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CROUCH ON ACADEMY PRODUCTS' IMPACT
Peter Crouch added: "In a game where you thought there might not be any smiles, it was downbeat, the young lads come off the bench, "You can see by everyone's reactions what it means. The injured players on the bench, it means so much when young lads coming through the youth team have such an influence on such a big game.
"Dane Scarlett has bounced around a few different loans, he's managed to get himself in the situation, come on, made a huge impact. Mikey Moore has been around the place, people talked about him for a long time, and Ajayi too - what a goal that was!
"Someone just said to me, just play the kids. We don't need to buy anyone. You know why? Because they're playing with no fear, come off the bench, had a massive impact in a European game.
"The fact the three young lads have come in and made the difference, it's just lifted the whole place. The manager is under so much stress, but everyone is coming away so pleased."
DAVIES HAILS TEAM-MATE SCARLETT'S IMPACT
Spurs defender Ben Davies was full of praise for Scarlett, after the 20-year-old scored his first Tottenham goal just four minutes after entering as a substitute.
"He came on in a game that was quite tough and changed it for us," Davies told TNT Sports. "Dane's worked so hard over the last few years that I've been with him.
"He's had to go out on loan, he's had to play limited minutes but to come on and play the way he did is amazing. Nothing short of what he deserves."
REASONS FOR SPURS FANS TO SMILE
Let us get this straight, Spurs fans have not had much to celebrate this season. But they can walk away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with broad smiles across their faces.
In what was a low-key affair until the final 20 minutes, Spurs struggled to really create anything meaningful - and it looked for all the world as if they were heading for a stalemate against their Swedish counterparts.
But the introduction of Dane Scarlett - who had previously struggled to break into Spurs' first team - changed everything, on a night where the club's academy ended up showing its worth.
The 20-year-old was first to strike, just four minutes after coming off the bench, while debutant Damola Ajayi soon followed up to notch his first goal and put the game beyond doubt.
But the result became even sweeter when Mikey Moore raced through and dispatched a fantastic solo effort to seal Spurs' top-eight spot. In the end, a fantastic night in north London, and one which will have Ange Postecoglou beaming.
The future is bright!
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 3-0 ELFSBORG (MOORE)
And how fitting is that! The much-loved Spurs youngster seals it, and that's just heartwarming.
From almost the halfway line, Moore wriggles away and races towards the box, before dispatching a low finish into the far corner.
It wasn't a perfect spectacle, but Spurs fans will walk away happy with this one. Three academy graduates, three goals, three points.
WHAT AN IMPACT
Just absolutely great to see two young Spurs academy players making the difference here.
They have absolutely taught their senior team-mates a lesson in how to drive through the opponents' defence, and have made the all-important impact - sealing Spurs' spot in the top eight.
Surely no way back for the visitors now.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2-0 ELFSBORG (AJAYI)
WOW! That is some goal from the debutant. Academy graduates absolutely running the show!
The kind of incision that Spurs have been missing all night. Ajayi picks it up on the right flank, before racing infield, playing a lovely one-two with Scarlett, and nestling an inch-perfect effort into the near corner.
Excellent stuff, and that will be that.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 ELFSBORG (SCARLETT)
And there it is! Immediately from the bench, Scarlett gets the elusive opener!
That is seriously impressive for a man who has been shipped out on loan numerous times, he has bailed his seniors out, big time!
And to be fair, it is a lovveeellyyy ball in from Kulusevski. He drifts infield and uses that excellent left foot to just float one in.
Scarlett is there, racing onto it and slamming home a header into the corner.
Just four minutes after coming on. What an impact from the young man.
SURELY NOT ANOTHER BLOW FOR SPURS?
In a relatively low-key exchange, the ball is heading out for a throw and Dragusin swings a right leg to try and meet it.
But he gets no contact, and when he plants his foot back on the ground immediately holds his knee. The defender signals to the bench he needs some treatment. Hopefully this isn't too serious.
He does come back on, but immediately shakes his head and goes back down. This is a shame. He will certainly be making way - meanwhile, Postecoglou is beefing the fourth official.